Djeboa vanilla Cook, Pešić & Gerecke, 2013

Pešić, Vladimir, Cook, David, Gerecke, Reinhard & Smit, Harry, 2013, The water mite family Mideopsidae (Acari: Hydrachnidia): a contribution to the diversity in the Afrotropical region and taxonomic changes above species level, Zootaxa 3720 (1), pp. 1-75 : 58-62

Djeboa vanilla Cook, Pešić & Gerecke sp. nov.

( Figs. 35A–F , 40G–H )

Type series: Holotype male, dissected and slide mounted, Madagascar 151, Sambava (Ansiranana), stream in Vanilla plantation, ca. 1 km W from the town, 10 m asl., 28.3 ˚C, 0.011 mS/cm, 13.xi. 2001, Gerecke & Goldschmidt. Paratypes: same data as holotype, 0/1/0 (dissected and slide mounted); Madagascar 078ab1, Fort Dauphin (Tulear), Mandena (QMM area), River Amendano , 0.5 km upstream road bridge, 12 m asl., pool, 15.ix.2001, Gerecke & Goldschmidt, 0/1/0 (dissected and slide mounted).

Diagnosis: Idiosoma anteriorly truncated; dorsal shield elliptical (L/W ratio 1.2), with little pronounced medial depression, lateral ridges slightly elevated, size of pores gradually diminuishing medially ( Fig. 35A ); muscle scars with well pronounced thickenings ( Figs. 40G–H ); edges of ventral shield serrate; gnathosomal bay Y-shaped; tips of Cx-I ending posterior to frontal margin; Cx-III and -IV with a few longitudinal striae (two or three pairs on Cx- IV). Palp ( Fig. 35D ): P-1 with a dorsal seta; P-2 with straight ventral and convex dorsal margin; P-3 proximally with an inflation, from here to distal edge straight, maximum height proximally; P-4 ventral margin concave, continuously narrowing from base to distal edge. Legs: I-L ( Fig. 35E ) with I-L-5 stout, ventral margin forming an obtuse angle in proximal third; I-L-6 L/H ratio 2.2-2.3, distally convexly protruding; IV-L: Fig. 35F ; swimming setae numbers: III-L-4, 5; III-L-5, 6; IV-L-4, 4; IV-L-5, 6.

Description:

Male (holotype): Idiosoma (ventral view: Fig. 35B ) L/W 464/453. Dorsal shield ( Fig. 40G ) L/W 397/330, ratio 1.2; gnathosomal bay L 85. Gonopore L/W 60/16. Palp: L/H, L/H ratio: P-2, 41/35, 1.19; P-3, 34/23, 1.5; P-4, 45/ 17, 2.7; P-5, 13/7, 1.9; chelicera total L 90; gnathosoma vL 91. Legs: dL of I-L: 41, 43, 45, 51, 59, 83; I-L-6 H 35, L/H ratio 2.4; dL of IV-L: 68, 72, 63, 83, 105, 106.

Female (paratype Madagascar 151, in parentheses Madagascar 078ab1): Idiosoma (ventral view: Fig. 35C ) L/ W 475 (472)/439 (456). Dorsal shield ( Figs. 35A , 40H ) L/W 403 (421)/347 (350), ratio 1.16 (1.2); gnathosomal bay L 85 (88). Gonopore L/W 91 (89)/80 (74), ratio 1.14 (1.2); egg maximum diameter 106 (104). Palp: total L 155-157 (165); L/H, L/H ratio: P-1, 20/22, 0.93 (20/21, 0.95); P-2, 43-45/34-37, 1.22-1.27 (45/35, 1.27); P-3, 34/ 26, 1.3 (36/26, 1.36); P-4, 46/18, 2.6 (49/18, 2.8); P-5, 12/7, 1.7 (15/8, 2.0); chelicera total L (99); gnathosoma vL 89 (99). Legs: dL of I-L: 39 (40), 42 (42), 43 (45), 46 (47), 55 (60), 79 (86); I-L-6 H 34 (37), L/H ratio 2.3 (2.3); dL of IV-L: 54 (68), 70 (75), 72 (65), 85 (89), 103 (102), 106 (108).

Etymology: Named after the vanilla plantation where two of the type specimens were collected.

Discussion: A similar dorsal shield, with pores gradually decreasing in size medially, is found in D. maromandia sp. nov. The latter differs in the presence of a pointed projection on the ventral gnathosoma margin, less pronounced muscle scars and tips of Cx-I extending beyond frontal margin.

Distribution: Madagascar; eastern rain forest, streams in the northern and southern parts.

Figures

FIGURE 35 A – F. Djeboa vanilla sp. nov. (B = male, A, C – F = female): A = dorsal shield; B – C = idiosoma, ventral view; D = palp; E = I-L; F = IV-L.

FIGURE 40 A – L. Photographs of dorsal shield. A – B. Djeboa elephantina sp. nov.: A— male holotype; B— male paratype. C – D Djeboa maromandia sp. nov.: C— male paratype; D— male holotype. E – F. Djeboa coelestinica sp. nov.: E— holotype male; F— paratype female. G – H. Djeboa vanilla sp. nov.: G — holotype male; H — female paratype. I – J. Djeboa bimaculata (Cook, 1966): I — male, Ouokoukro, Côte d’Ivoire; J — female, Ouokoukro, Côte d’Ivoire. K – L. Djeboa unimaculata (Cook, 1966), female, Fetekro, Côte d’Ivoire.